As a mark of respect for the late Hawai’i State Representative Clifton Tsuji, Gov. David Ige has ordered that the flags of the United States and State of Hawai‘i shall be flown at half-staff at all state offices and agencies, as well as the Hawai‘i National Guard, from sunrise to sunset on Friday, December 2, and from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, December 4.

“Representative Tsuji was a dedicated public servant who spent the last 12 years passionately and vigorously serving his beloved community of Hilo at the Hawai‘i State Legislature. He was a quiet man with a big heart who will be remembered fondly by his colleagues and Hawai‘i Island residents. I, personally, will miss him at the State Capitol. On behalf of the people of Hawai‘i, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Tsuji ‘‘ohana,” said Gov. David Ige.

Tsuji has served in the State House of Representatives since 2004. He was chairman of the House Committee on Economic Development and Business from 2013-14 and the House Committee on Agriculture from 2007-2012 and from 2015-2016.

He was a vocal supporter of biotechnology and genetically modified crops and a proponent of geothermal energy as an alternative to imported oil.